Introductory remarks by HR/VP Kaja Kallas at the launch of the Kyiv-Manila Strategic Dialogues

According to United Nations, May and June were the deadliest months for Ukrainian civilians since the start of this full-scale invasion in February 2022. But Ukraine's resilience is an example to the world. This past winter, Ukraine resisted Russia's brutal attacks. Here, let me thank the Philippines' private sector for its donations of electricity generators.

Today, everyone sees Ukraine is now in a stronger position. Some analysts suggest that Russia is actually losing its grip on occupied territory of Ukraine for the first time since 2023, and Ukraine has a clear technological advantage. Ukraine was even able to share its knowledge with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar when they became victims of the war between U.S. Israel, and Iran. Even while doing everything to defend its own country, Ukraine will support others in need.

My message today is very simple. This is a pivotal time in the war. Collectively, we must step up the pressure on Russia to come to the negotiation table and actually negotiate.

This is what the European Union is doing with more sanctions and more military support for Ukraine. Last week we announced a major initiative to work together with Ukraine on drones. This is also in our own European Union interest too. Ukraine's battlefields are a laboratory for modern warfare, and Ukraine's innovators are the best of the best. Ukraine will have European Union support for as long as it takes, and that is the irony of this war. Russia sought to divide Europe, but it has strengthened our resolve and our unity. Ukraine is now steadily progressing towards becoming an EU member state too.

But beyond Ukraine, Russia is a direct threat to global peace, and that is why this war is by no means only a European problem. Russia's war of aggression is a blatant violation of the UN Charter and the principles of international law that the global community, including the Philippines, is striving to uphold.

The war has:

• disrupted food and energy supplies and contributed to higher inflation worldwide;
• deepened divisions among countries;
• eroded trust in international institutions and norms;
• increased uncertainty within the international system;
• and turned attention and resources away from global public efforts such as competition, cooperation on trade, sustainable development, and climate change.

The Philippines and Indonesia lost over half of your wheat supply from Ukraine when Ukraine's agricultural production was destroyed by Russia. Vietnam faced many vulnerabilities: corn, fertilizers, steel, coal, an estimated of 1.5 billion euros in lost imports.

It is in all our interests that this war ends. But as history teaches us, aggressors will not stop unless they are stopped and justice is served, and that is why our joint efforts for peace must be combined with firm and coordinated pressure on Russia and accountability efforts.

With the International Criminal Court under immense pressure, it is especially important right now that we stand up for international law, we stand up for the institutions that exist to try the vilest international crimes, and also that we fill the gaps in the legal system where we need, as we have also done in setting up a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, I hereby also invite Philippines to join the Special Tribunal.

Let me conclude by thanking the Philippines for its continued engagement. Ukraine's presence in Manila only underlines the importance and appreciation of your work.

Thank you.